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DIY intall Trailer Hitch

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michaelchien

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi all,

Got a 2018 Odyssey Touring, and thinking of just buying the Trailer Hitch and the Hands Free Tailgate Sensor and install it myself. I've read the installation manual and watched some installation videos.. doesn't seem that difficult. Has anyone done this in their garage? How heavy is the Hitch? Is this something that can be done with only 1 person?

Thanks in advance.

Michael
 
#2 ·
I’ve done it 3 times by myself, on a 2012, 2015, and 2018. Not that difficult, just give yourself plenty of time and follow the instructions. It is heavy to hold up and I usually find a box of the right height to hold one side while I bolt the other. I have also held one side up with my foot while I work on the other side with my hands.
 
#3 ·
masonboswell said:
I’ve done it 3 times by myself, on a 2012, 2015, and 2018. Not that difficult, just give yourself plenty of time and follow the instructions. It is heavy to hold up and I usually find a box of the right height to hold one side while I bolt the other. I have also held one side up with my foot while I work on the other side with my hands.
Click to expand...
I'll second that. It IS heavy, but can be propped with a box on the opposite end. It is a straight forward lift and bolt on. It is a little difficult to get the passenger side bolted because the exhaust blocks it but definitely possible with 1 person. I bought the exposed cross beam one that does not require the bumper removal.
 
#4 ·
I added the hitch and hands-free sensor myself. I went with the oem hitch because I wanted it tucked up as high as possible. Our Sienna hitch scraped on everything, so I wanted to avoid this.
To install, I used the tricks mentioned above. The bumper needed to be trimmed, but it was difficult to get anything inside it to make the cut. So, I put blue painter's tape on the outside, and used a push pin to make holes through the bumper, transferring the marks from the inside to the outside. I connected the dots and used a jigsaw with a fine blade to make the cut.

You need three parts to install the hands free sensor:
[FONT=&quot]Part# [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]08U59-THR-100 sensor
Part# 08U59-THR-100A wiring adapter
Part# 08L91-THR-100A hitch adapter[/FONT]
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thanks all for the input.. would it be easier if the rear was jacked up for more clearance? (i'd imagine it'd be easier to remove clips and bolts but harder to lift up the hitch). Or is it okay simply on the ground?

Michael
 
#6 ·
michaelchien said:
Thanks all for the input.. would it be easier if the rear was jacked up for more clearance? (i'd imagine it'd be easier to remove clips and bolts but harder to lift up the hitch). Or is it okay simply on the ground?

Michael
Click to expand...
I left it on the ground. There is a reasonable amount of clearance. That being said, it could be a little easier with it lifted.
 
#8 ·
My touring already has the sensor to open lid with kick motion, is it correct that I need to modify that sensor location is I install OEM hitch?

Has anyone with sensor installed etrailer hitch? Does your sensor still work without any modification?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#12 ·
I also installed the OEM hitch + harness myself. The instructions call for using an airsaw which can fit in the cavity of the inner bumper but I did not have one...instead I used a small jigsaw to do the cutting. Would have been better cutting from the outside with blue tape as suggested above but in the end all of the cuts either gets covered up with the plastic garnish trim piece or is under the bumper itself and can't be seen from the road.
 
#13 · (Edited)
I have Elite which came with sensor. When negotiating to purchase the van, i was getting reduced prices on some accessories, like cargo bin and roof rack + cross bars. Dealer said to just buy the hitch from UHaul. I would like to know whether, if the dealer had installed the OEM hitch, whether the installation cost would have included moving the sensor. So I had UHaul install the hitch. Sensor doesn't work. Went to dealer who said it wouldn't work even if they had installed their own hitch. They want like $250 to install a new sensor in the alternate spot (parts plus labor). This is clearly a huge design flaw - why not put it in a spot where the hitch won't affect it in the first place? Not worth $250 to me. Can I actually move the existing sensor with the hitch already installed?
 
#14 ·
I don't have an elite but first thing I was asked when I purchased the Honda trailer hitch is whether I have the hands-free tailgate sensor. I do not. If you get the dealer/OEM trailer you need the 08L91-THR-100A Hands-Free Power Tailgate Hitch Adapter which retails for ~ $72 online. Other threads say its an extra 5 mins work if you are already cutting the bumper for the trailer hitch so all the cost is in the part itself. No idea if it works for aftermarket hitch...I doubt it because aftermarket sits so much lower on the bumper is covering the sensor.
 
#17 ·
Installed a draw Tite 76170 ($131.66) and tekonsha 118781 ($38.35) on an ex-l nav/res. I did them at separate times so total time all at once will be different. The T-one was easy, I didn’t have to completely remove the rear drivers panel, just the rear portion so that it can be pulled out enough to run wires and mount the module. I grounded to an existing bare metal bolt that holds the fuse panel bracket to the floor. I double sided taped and zip tied the module to a mounting tab for an oem module that was not being used. Over all it probably took 30 mins. The hitch was also easy, I changed tho oil and installed the hitch in 1-1.5 hrs (stopped for a sandwich). I went by the instructions for the Honda hitch:
https://www.collegehillshonda.com/instructions/odyssey/2018/trailerhitch.pdf
Make sure you use the tape like it says, it protects the paint if you need to pry the locking tabs to remove the bumper cover. Even though the draw Tite instructs cutting out a smaller notch for the receiver I opted to follow the Honda instructions and cut to allow use of the Honda bumper trim piece 08l92-thr-10030. You only need to cut out the center of the bumper cover and a strip on the fender panel, I torqued according to Honda specs 47 lb-ft rather than draw Tite specs of 79 lb ft. I read somewhere that someone stripped theirs out and I intend to avoid that. All done by myself, the hitch is awkward to get into position, I sat it on my lap while sitting and payed under the rear and lifted it into place, there are tabs on the rear bumper that will hold it while threading your first bolts in. A helper would make this quicker. I trimmed the bumper cover and fender piece with a box knife and if you’re careful it cuts easily and accurately, I was going to use a jigsaw with a fine blade but decided against it. In hot weather the abs plastic it soft and easily cut with a few scores. If you cut along the scribe marks on the bumper you will have to cut a portion wider to accommodate the hitch as it’s wider than the oem, I just reinstalled the cover and trimmed approximately 1/2” off of each side only a few inches deep.
 

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#19 · (Edited)
If you already have the model with power tailgate - hands free. Why would you need to purchase an additional sensor, aren't you just relocating the one already installed from the factory?

Part# 08U59-THR-100

I assume all that is needed would be:
[FONT=&quot]Part# [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]08L91-THR-100A (Hitch Adapter) which would give your sensor antenna/bar clearance?
[/FONT]

Thank you
 
#20 ·
domino-s said:
If you already have the model with power tailgate - hands free. Why would you need to purchase an additional sensor, aren't you just relocating the one already installed from the factory?

Part# 08U59-THR-100

I assume all that is needed would be:
Part# 08L91-THR-100A (Hitch Adapter) which would give your sensor antenna/bar clearance?


Thank you
Click to expand...

Update: Ok. So I think I figured it out (if someone would clarify as well, that would be reassuring)

If you already have a hands-free Odyssey Tailgate model, you do not need the Sensor bar, that can be reused.

If you just run the Trailer Hitch, you will need the ECU + new extended antenna: 08L91-THR-100A. This includes the extended Antenna to give clearance for Hitch
The wiring adapter (08U59-THR-100A) allows for signal lights to be extended to the rear bumper/hitch for attachments that require it.
Part# 08U59-THR-100 sensor - This is for models that do not have hands free tailgate sensors, it's a wide base that attaches to the rear bumper. This is not needed to models that already have the hands free tailgate.

Am I missing something?
 
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